Dean Moore
Fear God and keep His commandments/ trust Jesus
Dean writes:
David here are the results of allowing a false prophet into you mist-Also
note that the were women leaders of the early church-Prophetess were common
(v.20) -unfortunately this one was evil-as all false Teachers/Prophets are.
This church in Eph. is the same church Paul warned with tears-night and
day-to beware of false prophets.I would like to make two points here. One-
this is a church-as some here are part of that same church (where two or
more are gathered then I am in the mist). Two- The words of false teachers
are what we are to "Beware" of not their presence. If they were silent then
where would be the danger-here on this site we have their words-which you
call letters-but I will remind you again that most of the Bible is also a
group of letters. I would also like to let you know that God has confirmed
to me that I am to continue on with this "discussion" and that I am correct
in my teaching. Yesterday in Asheville N.C. at the local park a man came up
to me and asked me to preach on "False Prophets"-I have never been asked to
preach this before and with the study and research I have done with you I
was able to do so in an effective manner-of course in the process of
preaching this I had to debate the local "God loves everybody" preacher who
stated that "It take me a week after you leave to straighten these people
back out" :-)
Message to Ephesus
Rev 2:1 Unto the3588 angel32 of the3588 church1577 of Ephesus2179
write;1125 These things3592 saith3004 he that holdeth2902 the3588 seven2033
stars792 in1722 his848 right hand1188 who walketh4043 in1722 the midst3319
of the3588 seven2033 golden5552 candlesticks;3087
Rev 2:2 I know1492 thy4675 works,2041 and2532 thy4675 labor,2873 and2532
thy4675 patience,5281 and2532 how3754 thou canst1410 not3756 bear941 them
which are evil:2556 and2532 thou hast tried3985 them which say5335 they
are1511 apostles,652 and2532 are1526 not,3756 and2532 hast found2147
them846 liars:5571
Rev 2:3 And2532 hast borne,941 and2532 hast2192 patience,5281 and2532 for
my name's sake1223, 3450, 3686 hast labored,2872 and2532 hast not3756
fainted.2577
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless235 I have2192 somewhat against2596 thee,4675
because3754 thou hast left863 thy4675 first4413 love.26
Rev 2:5 Remember3421 therefore3767 from whence4159 thou art fallen,1601
and2532 repent,3340 and2532 do4160 the3588 first4413 works;2041 or else1490
I will come2064 unto thee4671 quickly,5034 and2532 will remove2795 thy4675
candlestick3087 out of1537 his848 place,5117 except3362 thou repent.3340
Rev 2:6 But235 this5124 thou hast,2192 that3754 thou hatest3404 the3588
deeds2041 of the3588 Nicolaitanes,3531 which3739 I also2504 hate.3404
Rev 2:7 He that hath2192 an ear,3775 let him hear191 what5101 the3588
Spirit4151 saith3004 unto the3588 churches;1577 To him846 that
overcometh3528 will I give1325 to eat5315 of1537 the3588 tree3586 of
life,2222 which3739 is2076 in1722 the midst3319 of the3588 paradise3857 of
God.2316
Rev 2:8 And2532 unto the3588 angel32 of the3588 church1577 in Smyrna4668
write;1125 These things3592 saith3004 the3588 first4413 and2532 the3588
last,2078 which3739 was1096 dead,3498 and2532 is alive;2198
Rev 2:9 I know1492 thy4675 works,2041 and2532 tribulation,2347 and2532
poverty,4432 (but1161 thou art1488 rich)4145 and2532 I know the3588
blasphemy988 of them which say3004 they1438 are1511 Jews,2453 and2532
are1526 not,3756 but235 are the synagogue4864 of Satan.4567
Rev 2:10 Fear5399 none3367 of those things which3739 thou shalt3195
suffer:3958 behold,2400 the3588 devil1228 shall3195 cast906 some of1537
you5216 into1519 prison,5438 that2443 ye may be tried;3985 and2532 ye shall
have2192 tribulation2347 ten1176 days;2250 be1096 thou faithful4103 unto891
death,2288 and2532 I will give1325 thee4671 a crown4735 of life.2222
Rev 2:11 He that hath2192 an ear,3775 let him hear191 what5101 the3588
Spirit4151 saith3004 unto the3588 churches;1577 He that overcometh3528
shall not3364 be hurt91 of1537 the3588 second1208 death.2288
Rev 2:12 And2532 to the3588 angel32 of the3588 church1577 in1722
Pergamos4010 write;1125 These things3592 saith3004 he which hath2192
the3588 sharp3691 sword4501 with two edges;1366
Rev 2:13 I know1492 thy4675 works,2041 and2532 where4226 thou
dwellest,2730 even where3699 Satan's4567 seat2362 is: and2532 thou holdest
fast2902 my3450 name,3686 and2532 hast not3756 denied720 my3450 faith,4102
even2532 in1722 those days2250 wherein1722, 3739 Antipas493 was my3450
faithful4103 martyr,3144 who3739 was slain615 among3844 you,5213 where3699
Satan4567 dwelleth.2730
Rev 2:14 But235 I have2192 a few things3641 against2596 thee,4675
because3754 thou hast2192 there1563 them that hold2902 the3588 doctrine1322
of Balaam,903 who3739 taught1321 Balac904 to cast906 a stumblingblock4625
before1799 the3588 children5207 of Israel,2474 to eat5315 things sacrificed
unto idols,1494 and2532 to commit fornication.4203
Rev 2:15 So3779 hast2192 thou4771 also2532 them that hold2902 the3588
doctrine1322 of the3588 Nicolaitanes,3531 which thing3739 I hate.3404
Rev 2:16 Repent;3340 or else1490 I will come2064 unto thee4671
quickly,5035 and2532 will fight4170 against3326 them846 with1722 the3588
sword4501 of my3450 mouth.4750
Rev 2:17 He that hath2192 an ear,3775 let him hear191 what5101 the3588
Spirit4151 saith3004 unto the3588 churches;1577 To him846 that
overcometh3528 will I give1325 to eat5315 of575 the3588 hidden2928, (3588)
manna,3131 and2532 will give1325 him846 a white3022 stone,5586 and2532
in1909 the3588 stone5586 a new2537 name3686 written,1125 which3739 no
man3762 knoweth1097 saving1508 he that receiveth2983 it.
Rev 2:18 And2532 unto the3588 angel32 of the3588 church1577 in1722
Thyatira2363 write;1125 These things3592 saith3004 the3588 Son5207 of
God,2316 who hath2192 his848 eyes3788 like unto5613 a flame5395 of
fire,4442 and2532 his848 feet4228 are like3664 fine brass;5474
Rev 2:19 I know1492 thy4675 works,2041 and2532 charity,26 and2532
service,1248 and2532 faith,4102 and2532 thy4675 patience,5281 and2532
thy4675 works;2041 and2532 the3588 last2078 to be more4119 than the3588
first.4413
Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding235 I have2192 a few things3641 against2596
thee,4675 because3754 thou sufferest1439 that woman1135 Jezebel,2403 which
calleth3004 herself1438 a prophetess,4398 to teach1321 and2532 to
seduce4105 my1699 servants1401 to commit fornication,4203 and2532 to
eat5315 things sacrificed unto idols.1494
J. Wesley wrote:
Rev 2:2 - I know - Jesus knows all the good and all the evil, which his
servants and his enemies suffer and do. Weighty word, "I know," how
dreadful will it one day sound to the wicked, how sweet to the righteous!
The churches and their angels must have been astonished, to find their
several states so exactly described, even in the absence of the apostle,
and could not but acknowledge the all - seeing eye of Christ and of his
Spirit. With regard to us, to every one of us also he saith, "I know thy
works." Happy is he that conceives less good of himself, than Christ knows
concerning him. And thy labour - After the general, three particulars are
named, and then more largely described in an inverted order, Thy labour Thy
patience: Thou canst not bear evil men: Thou hast patience: Thou hast
tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them
liars. Thou hast borne for my name's sake and hast not fainted. And thy
patience - Notwithstanding which thou canst not bear that incorrigibly
wicked men should remain in the flock of Christ. And thou hast tried those
who say they are apostles, and are not - For the Lord hath not sent them.
Rev 2:20 - But thou sufferest that woman Jezebel - who ought not to teach
at all, 1Ti_2:12. To teach and seduce my servants - At Pergamos were many
followers of Balaam; at Thyatira, one grand deceiver. Many of the ancients
have delivered, that this was the wife of the pastor himself. Jezebel of
old led the people of God to open idolatry. This Jezebel, fitly called by
her name, from the resemblance between their works, led them to partake in
the idolatry of the heathens. This she seems to have done by first enticing
them to fornication, just as Balaam did: whereas at Pergamos they were
first enticed to idolatry, and afterwards to fornication.
Adam Clark wrote:
Rev. 2:20
That woman Jezebel - There is an allusion here to the history of Ahab and
Jezebel, as given in 2 Kings 9:1-10:36; and although we do not know who
this Jezebel was, yet from the allusion we may take it for granted she was
a woman of power and influence in Thyatira, who corrupted the true
religion, and harassed the followers of God in that city, as Jezebel did in
Israel. Instead of that woman Jezebel, t?? ???a??a ?e?aß??, many excellent
MSS., and almost all the ancient versions, read t?? ???a??a s?? ?e?aß??,
Thy Wife Jezebel; which intimates, indeed asserts, that this bad woman was
the wife of the bishop of the Church, and his criminality in suffering her
was therefore the greater. This reading Griesbach has received into the
text. She called herself a prophetess, i.e., set up for a teacher; taught
the Christians that fornication, and eating things offered to idols, were
matters of indifference, and thus they were seduced from the truth. But it
is probable that by fornication here is meant idolatry merely, which is
often its meaning in the Scriptures. It is too gross to suppose that the
wife of the bishop of this Church could teach fornication literally. The
messenger or bishop of this Church, probably her husband, suffered this: he
had power to have cast her and her party out of the Church, or, as his
wife, to have restrained her; but he did not do it, and thus she had every
opportunity of seducing the faithful. This is what Christ had against the
messenger of this Church.
Matt. Henry wrote:
Rev 2:18-29 -
The form of each epistle is very much the same; and in this, as the rest,
we have to consider the inscription, contents, and conclusion.
I. The inscription, telling us, 1. To whom it is directed: To the angel of
the church of Thyatira, a city of the proconsular Asia, bordering upon
Mysia on the north and Lydia on the south, a town of trade, whence came the
woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who, being at Philippi in Macedonia,
probably about the business of her calling, heard Paul preach there, and
God opened her heart, that she attended to the things that were spoken, and
believed, and was baptized, and entertained Paul and Silas there. Whether
it was by her means that the gospel was brought into her own city,
Thyatira, is not certain; but that it was there, and successful to the
forming of a gospel church, this epistle assures us. 2. By whom it was
sent: by the Son of God, who is here described as having eyes like a flame
of fire, and feet like as fine brass. His general title is here, the Son of
God, that is, the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, which denotes that
he has the same nature with the Father, but with a distinct and subordinate
manner of subsistence. The description we have here of him is in two
characters: - (1.) That his eyes are like a flame of fire, signifying his
piercing, penetrating, perfect knowledge, a thorough insight into all
persons and all things, one who searches the hearts and tries the reins of
the children of men (Rev_2:23), and will make all the churches to know he
does so. (2.) That his feet are like fine brass, that the outgoings of his
providence are steady, awful, and all pure and holy. As he judges with
perfect wisdom, so he acts with perfect strength and steadiness.
II. The contents or subject-matter of this epistle, which, as the rest,
includes,
1. The honourable character and commendation Christ gives of this church,
ministry, and people; and this given by one who was no stranger to them,
but well acquainted with them and with the principles from which they
acted. Now in this church Christ makes honourable mention, (1.) Of their
charity, either more general, a disposition to do good to all men, or more
special, to the household of faith: there is no religion where there is no
charity. (2.) Their service, their ministration; this respects chiefly the
officers of the church, who had laboured in the word and doctrine. (3.)
Their faith, which was the grace that actuated all the rest, both their
charity and their service. (4.) Their patience; for those that are most
charitable to others, most diligent in their places, and most faithful,
must yet expect to meet with that which will exercise their patience. (5.)
Their growing fruitfulness: their last works were better than the first.
This is an excellent character; when others had left their first love, and
lost their first zeal, these were growing wiser and better. It should be
the ambition and earnest desire of all Christians that their last works may
be their best works, that they may be better and better every day, and best
at last.
2. A faithful reproof for what was amiss. This is not so directly charged
upon the church itself as upon some wicked seducers who were among them;
the church's fault was that she connived too much at them.
(1.) These wicked seducers were compared to Jezebel, and called by her
name. Jezebel was a persecutor of the prophets of the Lord, and a great
patroness of idolaters and false prophets. The sin of these seducers was
that they attempted to draw the servants of God into fornication, and to
offer sacrifices to idols; they called themselves prophets, and so would
claim a superior authority and regard to the ministers of the church. Two
things aggravated the sin of these seducers, who, being one in their spirit
and design, are spoken of as one person: - [1.] They made use of the name
of God to oppose the truth of his doctrine and worship; this very much
aggravated their sin. [2.] They abused the patience of God to harden
themselves in their wickedness. God gave them space for repentance, but
they repented not. Observe, First, Repentance is necessary to prevent a
sinner's ruin. Secondly, Repentance requires time, a course of time, and
time convenient; it is a great work, and a work of time. Thirdly, Where God
gives space for repentance, he expects fruits meet for repentance.
Fourthly, Where the space for repentance is lost, the sinner perishes with
a double destruction.
(2.) Now why should the wickedness of this Jezebel be charged upon the
church of Thyatira? Because that church suffered her to seduce the people
of that city. But how could the church help it? They had not, as a church,
civil power to banish or imprison her; but they had ministerial power to
censure and to excommunicate her: and it is probable that neglecting to use
the power they had made them sharers in her sin.
3. The punishment of this seducer, this Jezebel, Rev_2:22, Rev_2:23, in
which is couched a prediction of the fall of Babylon. (1.) I will cast her
into a bed, into a bed of pain, not of pleasure, into a bed of flames; and
those who have sinned with her shall suffer with her; but this may yet be
prevented by their repentance. (2.) I will kill her children with death;
that is, the second death, which does the work effectually, and leaves no
hope of future life, no resurrection for those that are killed by the
second death, but only to shame and everlasting contempt.
4. The design of Christ in the destruction of these wicked seducers, and
this was the instruction of others, especially of his churches: All the
churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and the hearts;
and I will give to every one of you according to your works. God is known
by the judgments that he executes; and, by this revenge taken upon
seducers, he would make known, (1.) His infallible knowledge of the hearts
of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper, their formality,
their indifference, their secret inclinations to symbolize with idolaters.
(2.) His impartial justice, in giving every one according to his work, that
the name of Christians should be no protection, their churches should be no
sanctuaries for sin and sinners.
5. The encouragement given to those who keep themselves pure and undefiled:
But to you I say, and unto the rest, etc., Rev_2:24. Observe, (1.) What
these seducers called their doctrines - depths, profound mysteries, amusing
the people, and endeavouring to persuade them that they had a deeper
insight into religion than their own ministers had attained to. (2.) What
Christ called them - depths of Satan, Satanical delusions and devices,
diabolical mysteries; for there is a mystery of iniquity, as well and the
great mystery of godliness. It is a dangerous thing to despise the mystery
of God, and it is as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. (3.) How
tender Christ is of his faithful servants: “I will lay upon you no other
burden; but that which you have already hold fast till I come, Rev_2:24,
Rev_2:25. I will not overburden your faith with any new mysteries, nor your
consciences with any new laws. I only require your attention to what you
have received. Hold that fast till I come, and I desire no more.” Christ is
coming to put an end to all the temptations of his people; and, if they
hold fast faith and a good conscience till he come, all the difficulty and
danger will be over.
III. We now come to the conclusion of this message, Rev_2:26-29. Here we
have, 1. The promise of an ample reward to the persevering victorious
believer, in two parts: - (1.) Very great power and dominion over the rest
of the world: Power over the nations, which may refer either to the time
when the empire should turn Christian, and the world be under the
government of the Christian emperor, as in Constantine's time; or to the
other world, when believers shall sit down with Christ on his throne of
judgment, and join with him in trying, and condemning, and consigning over
to punishment the enemies of Christ and the church. The upright shall have
dominion in the morning. (2.) Knowledge and wisdom, suitable to such power
and dominion: I will give him the morning-star. Christ is the morning-star.
He brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory; and
he will give his people that perfection of light and wisdom which is
requisite to the state of dignity and dominion that they shall have in the
morning of the resurrection. 2. This epistle ends with the usual demand of
attention: He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. In the foregoing epistles, this demand of attention comes before
the concluding promise; but in this, and all that follow, it comes after,
and tells us that we should all attend to the promises as well as to the
precepts that Christ delivers to the churches.
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